CJ Stroud’s playoff performance may have left a sour taste, but the Houston Texans aren’t hitting the panic button. Despite a rough outing in the AFC Divisional Round-where Stroud completed just 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown, and a pair of interceptions-the organization is standing firmly behind its young quarterback.
Let’s be clear: Stroud didn’t have his best day against a Patriots defense that came in with a smart, aggressive game plan. The timing was off, the pressure was constant, and the rhythm that had defined much of his regular season just wasn’t there. But one bad playoff game doesn’t erase the bigger picture, and that’s exactly the stance the Texans are taking.
General manager Nick Caserio made that clear during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Caserio pointed to the ups and downs that come with developing a franchise quarterback and emphasized the importance of staying the course.
“I think the big thing about DeMeco, we believe in our players, and you want to instill confidence in them, understanding there's going to be some ups and downs that you're going to have to endure,” Caserio said. “Every player goes through that. CJ went through that during the course of the season, and that game was a microcosm of some of the things early in the year, but it's going to happen.”
That’s a telling quote. Caserio isn’t sugarcoating the playoff loss, but he’s also not overreacting to it.
He’s acknowledging that Stroud’s struggles weren’t isolated-they mirrored some of the inconsistencies we saw earlier in the season. But the focus now shifts to how Stroud responds.
“So how do you bounce back? How do you handle those things?
And hopefully you learn from them,” Caserio continued. “Then you get to the offseason-what are some things that you can correct?
So that’s where the focus is going to be. But he’s played a lot of good football for us for three years now, and [we’re] excited for where we are heading into year four.”
.@HoustonTexans GM Nick Caserio discussed the support they have for QB C.J. Stroud.
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 29, 2026
📻 https://t.co/ROaoooLr1I#Texans | #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/K3nDAVSqWN
That’s the kind of support you want to hear from the front office when you’re building around a young quarterback. And make no mistake-Stroud has given them plenty to build on.
Across 14 games in the 2025 regular season, Stroud threw for over 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, adding another 209 yards and a score on the ground. Those aren’t MVP numbers, but they’re the kind of steady production you want from a quarterback still early in his development. In the playoffs, he added 462 passing yards and two touchdowns, though the five interceptions over that stretch are what will stick in the minds of fans and analysts alike.
Still, the Texans know that growing pains are part of the process, especially with a young QB leading the charge. Stroud has shown poise, leadership, and flashes of elite-level talent. Now it’s about consistency-and continuing to evolve in the offseason.
Houston’s defense has been the backbone of this team, showing real Super Bowl potential. But the offense is still a work in progress. That’s where the front office will have to focus this offseason-identifying weapons, shoring up protection, and giving Stroud every opportunity to take the next step.
There are plenty of decisions looming-free agency, the draft, and internal evaluations of both players and coaching staff-but one thing is clear: CJ Stroud is still the guy in Houston. The Texans are betting on his growth, not running from his struggles. And if he can take that next leap in Year 4, this team could be right back in the playoff mix-only this time, with a little more bite on the offensive side of the ball.